U.S. patent application number 11/325017 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for implement for carrying waste.
Invention is credited to Daniel Beaupre.
Application Number | 20060219188 11/325017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37055080 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060219188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beaupre; Daniel |
October 5, 2006 |
Implement for carrying waste
Abstract
An implement for carrying waste while using a leash. The
implement includes a leash receiving member for releasably securing
the leash thereto. A waste receiving container is provided for
receiving the waste thereinto. The container includes an attachment
portion for releasably attaching the leash receiving member
thereto. The container defines an upper opening for receiving the
waste therethrough and a lower opening for releasing the waste
therethrough. The container includes a trap for releasing the
waste. The trap is operable between a closed configuration and an
open configuration. In the closed configuration, the trap
substantially blocks the opening. In the open configuration, the
trap substantially frees the opening.
Inventors: |
Beaupre; Daniel;
(Ville-Marie, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INVENTARIUM
Suite 1607
4050 Rosemont blvd
Montreal
QC
H1X 1M4
CA
|
Family ID: |
37055080 |
Appl. No.: |
11/325017 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60665814 |
Mar 29, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/795 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 27/008 20130101;
A01K 27/006 20130101; A01K 27/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/795 |
International
Class: |
A01K 27/00 20060101
A01K027/00 |
Claims
1. An implement for carrying wastes while using a leash, said
implement comprising: a waste-receiving container for receiving the
wastes thereinto, said waste receiving container having a front
wall a rear wall, a side wall and a reverse side wall, collectively
known as four walls, and said four walls defining both a lower
opening and an upper opening; said container further including an
attachment portion for releasably attaching a hand holding means,
consisting any of at least one of a handle or a leash receiving
member, thereto; defining an upper opening for receiving the wastes
therethrough and a lower opening for releasing the wastes
therethrough; and said lower opening being operable between a
closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein in said
closed configuration said opening being substantially blocked and
in said open configuration, said opening being substantially
open.
2. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
attachment portion extending from both said side wall and said
reverse side wall.
3. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
lower opening being substantially blocked when in a closed
configuration by way of a flap.
4. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
flap extends from said reverse side wall and when folded, reaches
across said lower opening, so as to substantially block it by way
of a blocking portion, and terminates onto said side wall with a
flap attachment portion attaching to said side wall.
5. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 4 wherein: said
flap attachment portion attaching to said side wall by way
hook/loop materials.
6. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
container includes an attachment portion for releasably attaching
said leash receiving member thereto.
7. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
leash receiving member having two substantially disc shaped side
walls; said side walls being interconnected through bands extending
therebetween.
8. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 7 wherein: said
bands being elastic.
9. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 7 wherein: said
retractable leash being receivable between said side walls and
maintained in position by said bands.
10. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: a
closing device provides additional securing of a retractable leash
to said leash receiving member.
11. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 10 wherein: said
closing device includes first and second overlapping flaps held
together by hook/loop materials.
12. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 7 wherein: said
side walls each defining respective inner surfaces and outer
surfaces; said inner surfaces contacting said leash receiving
member while said outer surfaces being provided with a hook/loop
type material; and said outer surfaces making contact with a
hook/loop material part of said attachment portion.
13. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: said
handle having hook/loop materials base to releasably attach to said
attachment portion's hook/loop materials.
14. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein: at
least one of said four walls having pockets.
15. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 3 wherein: said
flap having a flashlight receiving pocket.
16. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 15 wherein: said
flashlight receiving pocket being substantially hemicylindrical and
made of a resiliently elastically deformable material.
17. An implement for carrying wastes as in claim 1 wherein the mode
of operation consisting of the steps of: inserting said wastes into
said container by having one of said attachment portion being
detached so as to free said upper opening and allowing the
insertion of said wastes therethrough; reattaching said attachment
portion; and detaching said flap from said side wall so as to free
said bottom opening so as to release said wastes.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the general filed of waste
management. More specifically, the present invention is concerned
with an implement for carrying waste such as pet excrements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many pet owners walk their pet using a leash. In many
locations, it is required that pet owners clean-up after their
pets. Accordingly, pet owners typically carry a bag or any such
implement for picking up the waste after it has been laid by the
animal. In addition, during relatively long walks, the owner may
also produce wastes, for example in the form of empty food
containers.
[0003] If the user is to pick up the waste and walk the animal,
then the two hands of the user are typically required. One hand
typically holds the leash while the other hand typically holds the
container for the waste. While it is possible that a user uses a
single hand to hold both a leash and a container, this may reduce
one's ability to hold a firm grip on the leash.
[0004] In addition, plastic bags are often used to contain the
waste. Such plastic bags are relatively aesthetically unpleasant
and expose the pet owner to the various odors released by the waste
and are also relatively fragile and may therefore become damaged
during the walk.
[0005] Furthermore, especially during relatively long walks, the
owner typically needs to carry other items such as, for example, a
cell phone or other items related to the pet, such as toys. This
requires the owner to use yet another container for these
items.
[0006] Against this background, there exists a need in the industry
to provide a novel implement for carrying waste.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an improved implement for carrying waste.
[0008] It is anotehr object of theis invention to provide for an
implement which carries other useful accessories for a pet
owner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In a broad aspect, the invention provides an implement for
carrying waste while using a leash. The implement includes a leash
receiving member for releasably securing the leash thereto. A waste
receiving container is provided for receiving the waste thereinto.
The container includes an attachment portion for releasably
attaching the leash receiving member thereto. The container defines
an upper opening for receiving the waste therethrough and a lower
opening for releasing the waste therethrough. The container
includes an opening for releasing the waste. The opening is
operable between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
In the closed configuration, the opening is substantially blocked.
In the open configuration, the opening is substantially
unblocked.
[0010] In some embodiments of the invention, the waste receiving
container is provided with pockets to receive items to be carried
by the user. Also, in some embodiments of the invention, a
reflective band is provided onto the container so as to improve the
visibility of a pet owner at night.
[0011] Advantageously, the container is relatively ergonomic and
relatively easy to use even by relatively inexperienced users.
[0012] The implement is relatively easily manufactured and
relatively inexpensive. In addition, the implement is hygienic as
it provides a further barrier between the waste that may be
received in plastic bags, and the user.
[0013] The opening allows for relatively easy release of the waste
into a waste disposal container, such as a garbage can. In
addition, the use of an opening ensures that typically the user
need not handle the waste after its collection.
[0014] Advantageously, the implement is usable with many types of
currently existing leashes including retractable leashes.
[0015] The implement is attachable to the leash and therefore
typically frees one hand, which improves the safety of the user
when walking over slippery or uneven ground.
[0016] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0017] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0018] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0019] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
[0020] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is
illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 Isometric view of the invention with the leash
receiving member shown detached.
[0022] FIG. 2 Reverse angle view of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 Side view with both openings open.
[0024] FIG. 4 Isometric view as in FIG. 1 but with a handle instead
of the receiving member.
[0025] FIGS. 5-7 Top, side and front views, respectively of the
leash receiving member with an retractable leash within.
[0026] FIGS. 8-10 Side, front and reverse side, respectively of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] An implement (10) for carrying waste (74) while using a
leash (12) or a retractable leash (as shown). The implement (10)
further includes a waste receiving container (16) for receiving the
waste thereinto. The implement (10) includes hand holding means,
one being a handle (15) while the other consisting of a leash
receiving member (14) for releasably securing, thereto, a leash
(12) of the retractable kind. When using a leash (12), that is
retractable, its built-in handle (11) acts as the means for hand
holding the implement (10). The container (16) includes an
attachment portion (18) for releasably attaching the leash
receiving member (14) or the handle (15) thereto.
[0028] he container (16) defines an upper opening (20) for
receiving the waste (74) therethrough and a lower opening (22) for
releasing the waste (74) therethrough. A flap (24) is provided so
that it is operable between a closed configuration and an open
configuration. In the closed configuration, as shown for example in
FIG. 9, the flap (24) substantially blocks the opening (22). In the
open configuration, as shown for example in FIG. 3, the flap (24)
substantially frees the opening (22).
[0029] Accordingly, the implement (10) allows an intended user to
hold the leash (12) while carrying the container (16) with only one
hand. The flap (24) allows for disposal of waste (74) inserted
within the container (16), for example for releasing animal feces
collected during a walk with a pet.
[0030] While the present document refers to upper and lower
openings (20, 22), the reader skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that these designations are only present to facilitate
the description of the invention and are therefore not to be used
to restrict the scope of the invention.
[0031] The leash receiving member (14) includes two substantially
disc shaped side walls (26). The side walls (26) are interconnected
through bands (28) extending therebetween. In embodiments of the
invention wherein the leash (12) is a retractable leash, the leash
(12) is receivable between the side walls (26) and is therefore
maintained by the bands (28) in this position. The bands (28),
which are preferably elastic, allow using the leash receiving
member (14) with retractable leashes of different dimensions.
[0032] In addition, to provide additional securing of the
retractable leash (12) to the leash receiving member (14), a
closing device is provided. For example, the closing device
includes first and second overlapping flaps (30) held together by a
hook/loop materials. It is however within the scope of the
invention to have closing mechanisms that differ from the above
described mechanism.
[0033] The side walls (26) each define respective inner surfaces
(32) and outer surfaces (34). The inner surfaces (32) contact the
leash receiving member (14), while the outer surfaces (34) are
provided with a hook/loop type material (whether the outer surface
is made of hook or pile material is unimportant for as long as the
surface to be made contact onto has the complementary material s in
order to be operative). In this case, the outer surfaces (32) make
contact with a hook/loop material (48) part of the attachment
portion (18).
[0034] In an alternate embodiment, when a regular non-retractable
leash (not shown) is used the handle (15) having a hook/loop base
(13) is used. To releasably attach the handle (15) he attachment
portion (18) is used as when used with the leash receiving member
(14), that is, pressure is applied onto the base (13) by the
attachment portion (18) and its hook/loop material (48).
[0035] The waste receiving container (16) includes a front wall
(40), a rear wall which is a mirror image (not shown), a side wall
(204) and a reverse side wall (206). All aforementioned walls (40,
204, 206), also collectively known as four walls (40, 204, 206),
define both the lower opening (22) and the upper opening (20). The
flap (24) extends from the reverse side wall (40) and when folded,
reaches across the lower opening (22), so as to substantially block
it by way of a blocking portion (58), and terminates onto the side
wall (204) with a flap attachment portion (60) for attaching to the
side wall (204). When in an open configuration, the flap (24)
allows any object contained within the container (16) to be
released through the opening (22). In addition, the attachment
portion (18) extends from both the side (204) wall and reverse side
wall (206).
[0036] In some embodiments of the invention, at least one
reflective band (52) is provided onto the extension outer surfaces.
However, such reflective bands are not necessarily provided in all
embodiments of the invention.
[0037] Non-limitatively, the flap attachment (60) is attachable to
the side wall (204) through the use of and hook/loop materials.
Since this attachment method has been described in details
hereinabove, no further details regarding the attachment are given
hereinbelow.
[0038] In some embodiments of the invention, the side or reverse
side walls (204, 206) have flat pockets (64) or full pockets (65)
which are usable, for example to carry keys, a cell phone, or
plastic bags for picking up the waste, among others. The pockets
(64, 65) may be mesh pockets, or include a securing flap (67) among
various possibilities.
[0039] In some embodiments of the invention, the implement (10)
includes a fabric and the handles and hook and loop type pieces of
material are secured thereto using glue or through sewing. However,
it is within the scope of the invention to have implements
including any other suitable material and to secure hook and loop
pieces of material thereto using any other suitable methods.
[0040] The waste receiving container (16) may, at the same time,
receive and release the waste (74). However, the reader skilled in
the art will readily appreciate that in a typical use, the
implement (10) either only receives the waste (74) or releases the
waste (74).
[0041] To insert the waste (74) into the container (16), one of the
attachment portion (18) is detached from the leash receiving member
(14), or the base (13), as the case may be, this frees the upper
opening (20) and allows the insertion of the waste (74)
therethrough. Then, the user reattaches the attachment portion
(18).
[0042] To release the waste (74), the flap (24) is detached from
the side wall (204) so as to free the bottom opening (22). This
allows the waste (74) to fall through this lower opening 22 through
the action of gravity. Then, the user may simply reattach the flap
(24).
[0043] Optionally, the implement (10) has a flashlight receiving
pocket (100). The flashlight receiving pocket (100) is provided for
receiving at least partially thereinto at least one flashlight
(102). Also, it is within the scope of the invention to receive any
other suitable object within the flashlight receiving pocket 100,
such as for example umbrellas and sticks, among others.
[0044] The flashlight receiving pocket 100 is substantially
hemicylindrical and made of a resiliently elastically deformable
material, this allows to secure flashlights (102) of differing
diameters.
[0045] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0046] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0047] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *